DUNK CITY, Fla. – FGCU men's basketball redshirt junior Brandon Goodwin has announced his intention to declare for the 2017 NBA Draft, but not hire an agent, allowing him to maintain his amateurism as he goes through the upcoming evaluation process.
 
Similar to what Marc-Eddy Norelia did last year, by making himself eligible for the NBA Draft Goodwin is able to start attending workouts scheduled by NBA teams and is eligible to compete – if he is invited – in the NBA Draft Combine May 9-14. After that time, Goodwin can mull over his options as the deadline to withdraw from the NBA Draft is June 12, which would allow him to return to FGCU for his senior season without any penalty.
 
"Brandon is coming off the most prolific scoring season in program history, and after speaking with him, we both decided this would be the best option for him to see what areas of his game still need improving," said FGCU head coach Joe Dooley. "With this being the second year of the new NCAA rules in place, it's a great way for him to see just where he stands relative to his peers."
 
In January of 2016, NCAA officials adopted a proposal that, among other provisions, changed the date by which a student-athlete must remove his name from the NBA Draft without forfeiting his amateurism. The intention of the change was to provide student-athletes the chance to make more fully-informed decisions of returning to school or preparing themselves for a potential basketball career.
 
"It's been my dream to play in the NBA, and this is a great opportunity for me to find out just where I stand," stated Goodwin. "Going through this evaluation process over the next month or so should provide me with a better understanding of that and allow me to make a more well-informed decision."
 
A UCF transfer, Goodwin made his first season in an FGCU uniform one to remember as he set the program's single-season scoring record with 629 points – the only player to ever eclipse the 600-point mark (next closest: Norelia, 597 last season). The 6-2 point guard led FGCU in scoring (18.5) and assists (4.1), and finished 3rd in rebounding (4.5).
 
The 18.5 point-per-game average shattered the program's previous Division-I single-season record of 17.1 by Norelia in 2015-16, while Goodwin's 136 made free throws also eclipsed Norelia's D-I single-season program record of 129 set last year.
 
Goodwin was the unanimous ASUN Newcomer of the Year, was named ASUN Newcomer of the Week a record six times (previous record: 4) and on Feb. 20 he became the first player in league history to be named both ASUN Player of the Week and ASUN Newcomer of the Week. Additionally, he was just the fourth player in program history to be named to the NABC District 3 First Team.
 
The Norcross, Ga., native was tabbed as the ASUN Tournament MVP after averaging 20 points over three FGCU wins, and continued his brilliant play into the NCAA Tournament with game bests of 28 points and seven assists in the 14th-seeded Eagles' narrow 86-80 loss to 3rd-seeded Florida State in the First Round.
 
Goodwin hit three game-winning shots on the year: a floater in the paint at Louisiana Tech with 12 seconds remaining, all three free throws with .6 of a second left at Stetson and a baseline 3-pointer with 34 seconds showing at North Florida. The Norcross High School product scored a season-high 29 points on two occasions, and tallied 28 two other times – including an FGCU ASUN Championship record in the semifinals versus Kennesaw State.
 
SOCIAL CENTRAL
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COACH DOOLEY 
FGCU is led by head coach Joe Dooley, who completed his 4th season with the Eagles in 2016-17 and has coached eight all-conference selections in that time. He has led FGCU to 20+ win seasons and postseason appearances in all four years: 2013 NIT; 2014 CIT; 2015 NCAA; 2016 NCAA. Dooley was named the 2017 ASUN Coach of the Year and the 2017 NABC District 3 Coach of the Year after leading the Eagles to a D-I program record 26 wins. In eight seasons overall as a head coach, Dooley has a record of 148-98 (.602), and in his four years with FGCU is 91-46 (.664). Prior to arriving in SWFL, Dooley spent 10 seasons as an assistant at Kansas under head coach Bill Self. During those 10 seasons, Kansas produced 300 wins, nine-straight Big 12 regular-season titles, six Big 12 Tournament championships, six NCAA Sweet 16s, five NCAA Elite Eight appearances and two Final Fours, including the 2008 National Championship.
 
SUPPORT THE CAUSE 
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.